British Loins Tour to New Zealand 2017 - Official Thread

[manbehindthewire]

@GeoffreyBoycott

22 - A. C. Cruden (Manawatu & Hurricanes)/L.Z. Sopoaga (Wellington & Hurricanes)

Both incorrect!!

[GeoffreyBoycott]

New Zealand have gone with four of the front five from Canterbury that the Lions front five destroyed in Christchurch last Saturday week. I imagine Gatty will go with a front five of the Saracens quartet and Campile on Saturday. Lions to win on Saturday on the back of forward dominance.

[Little_Lord_Fauntleroy]

You going mate?

[GeoffreyBoycott]

Was never going on Saturday. Second and possibly third test potentially.

[Little_Lord_Fauntleroy]

Keep us updated

[manbehindthewire]

Arise Sir. Peter

[GeoffreyBoycott]

British Lions team to face New Zealand in the first test in Auckland on Saturday.

Starting XV
15 - L.B. Williams (Waunarlwydd, Scarlets & Wales)
14 - A.K.C. Watson (Bath & England)
13 - J.J.V. Davies (Llanelli, Scarlets & Wales)
12 - B.J. Teo (Worcester & England)
11 - E.F. Daly (Wasps & England)
10 - O.A. Farrell (Saracens & England)
9 - G.C. Murray (Garryowen, Munster & Ireland)
1 - M.W.I.W.N.A. Vunipola (Saracens & England)
2 - J.E. George (Saracens & England),
3 - T.P. Furlong (New Ross, Leinster & Ireland)
4 - A.W. Jones (Bonymaen, Ospreys & Wales)
5 - G.E.J. Kruis (Saracens & England)
6 - P.J. O’Mahony (Cork Constitution, Munster & Ireland) captain
7 - S.K. O’Brien (Tullow, Leinster & Ireland)
8 - T.T. Faletau (Bath & Wales)
Replacements
16 - K.J. Owens (Llanelli, Scarlets & Wales)
17 - J.C. McGrath (St Mary’s College, UCD & Ireland)
18 - K.N.J.S. Sinckler (Harlequins & England)
19 - O.M. Itoje (Saracens & England)
20 - S.K Warburton (Cardiff, Blues & Wales)
21 - R.Webb (Bridgend, Ospreys & Wales)
22 - J.J. Sexton (St Mary’s College, Leinster & Ireland)
23 - S.L. Halfpenny (Toulon & Wales)

[myboyblue]

Teo

[Little_Lord_Fauntleroy]

Do the loins welcome women beaters

[mickee321]

@Sidney

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/chiefs-6-lions-34-lions-player-ratings-1.3126491

15 Liam Williams: Excellent performance; great line for the first try, superb break for the fourth try, he made the most of the space afforded him in a high quality contribution. Rating: 8.

14 Jack Nowell: This was a much better representation of his talent, sharp and decisive on the ball, his footwork caused the Chiefs plenty of problems and deserved his brace of tries. Rating: 8
.
13 Jared Payne: Auxiliary flanker for a scrum penalty, he scored one try, might have had another if Tommy Seymour’s pass was better but the Loins don’t use him to maximise his talent. Rating: 7.

12 Robbie Henshaw: Another hard working display, physically abrasive in defence and carried hard and straight but like Payne, he’s underutilised from a creative perspective. Rating: 7.

11 Elliot Daly: Virtually every intervention was a positive one, chasing kicks, making breaks, tackling and the fact that he was taken off early suggests that he will be involved, possibly from the bench on Saturday. Rating: 8.

10 Dan Biggar: A very bright display from the Ospreys pivot, he played on the gain-line, his distribution was intelligent and his place-kicking faultless. Rating: 7.

9 Greg Laidlaw: It was his best contribution on the tour but he’s still a little bit ponderous and structured in some of his play and his box-kicking drifted long at times. Rating: 6.

1 Joe Marler: His indiscipline that saw him correctly earn a yellow card aside, this was a really good performance both in the scrum and particularly in defence and the breakdown. Rating: 7.

2 Rory Best (capt): Two crooked lineout throws and a penalty conceded for which he loses a point but the ledger is overwhelmingly positive. He led his team superbly and was a standout player. Rating: 7.

3 Dan Cole: The turnover in the 80th minute highlighted his work-rate on a night when he was a big contributor in the scrum, the loose, breakdown and in defence. Rating: 8.

4 Iain Henderson: He got through a phenomenal amount of graft the majority of which was high quality in an outstanding performance. For me the best forward for his all-round contribution. Rating: 9.

5 Courtney Lawes: He excelled for the most part, the odd blip, a penalty conceded a couple of handling errors, but another to make a positive contribution. Rating: 7.

6 James Haskell: His best performance of the tour, he helped to shut down the Chiefs in attack and slowed down their ball at the breakdown while his clearouts were important in a couple of tries. Rating: 8.

7 Justin Tipuric: When the Loins lineout wobbled they went to him and he guaranteed possession, managed turnovers and supported intelligently. Rating: 7.

8 CJ Stander: Carried aggressively and to good effect, using his footwork as complement power and brought a passing game. Rating: 8.

Replacements: Allan Dell will have enjoyed that scrum penalty in his brief cameo but it was interesting that aside from him the Welsh and Scottish addendums to the squad didn’t get what some would have considered a cheap jersey. Alun Wyn Jones brief appearance suggests he will be on the bench at the weekend. Rating: 6.

Coach: He’s come in for some criticism about supplementing his touring party personnel based on geography rather than merit but if he wins the series, the brouhaha will be less virulent. The team did as requested against the severely depleted Chiefs. Rating: 7.

that XV has the look of a midweek group on “tour”…

[Sidney]

Gatty is Gatty.

He’s thrown in a few right curve balls at New Zealand with his selections at full-back, left-wing three-quarters, and first lock, but I think a couple of them may curve so much that they come back to bite him on the ass.

Liam Williams played the full 80 minutes on Tuesday and it’s asking a lot of him to go again.

Elliot Daly played an hour and while he played very well I would have kept him in reserve with a view to him playing a part in the second test.

I see Gatty’s thinking, as Daly is an additional kicking option in the absence of Leigh Halfpenny from the starting line-up, but I disagree with it.

Halfpenny for me was a must as he’s the best clutch kicker in the world, and Farrell hasn’t been at his level in that regard so far on this tour.

I would have also stuck with George North as I believe he’s one of those players who always has the ability to kick into top form when most needed.

Itoje played his way in last Saturday and to me the selection of Alun Wyn Jones smacks of politics, especially with the captain being left out.

[Thumper]

Jones is not the man to go for there. NZ are all speed and explosiveness. Jones is grand against the likes of toner. Not too sure about retallick and co. Henderson and lawes have far more upside. Itojo will be an English great alongside johnno.

I’d fear for POM too. A firing Stander would be huge. Warburton hasn’t exactly set the place alight.

[Sidney]

@Thumper

I’d fear for POM too. A firing Stander would be huge. Warburton hasn’t exactly set the place alight.

Much as I like Peter O’Mahony, and I think his selection at blind side flanker is the correct one, I don’t believe a Southern Irisher should ever captain the British Loins, especially in New Zealand. History bears this out this view.

[maroonandwhite]

Teo is playing senior hurling now. NZ by 24.

[Thumper]

Won’t go there on the history front.

I think Gatland hedged his bets and didn’t go all out with his selection.

[Sidney]

@maroonandwhite

Teo is playing senior hurling now. NZ by 24.

Te’o has played State of Origin for Queensland.

While it may not quite have the history, tradition and imperial, civilising mission ethos of a British Loins tour, it is very definitely, to use your metaphor, “senior hurling”.

[Bandage]

I was ridiculed when I said AWJ would be a test starter. The rugby football experts asserted that he wouldn’t even make the squad but they didn’t reckon for my commentator’s eye.

[maroonandwhite]

That would be the equivalent of playing senior shinty

[Sidney]

@maroonandwhite

That would be the equivalent of playing senior shinty

The shinty players generally beat their hurling opponents literally up a stick.

Many’s the Galway inter-county player who has travelled to Bught Park, Inverness cock of the walk and come away with their cough well and truly softened.

[maroonandwhite]

If thats the case i certainly hope no dublin ‘hurlers’ ever go there